I was messing with an S3 at work today. I didn't notice any lag in the areas you're talking about. Mail loaded, notification center (biggest thing I miss from jailbroken IOS) was beautiful and practical.
I love WP8 tiles, the idea is great. But I started feeling the sting of this purchase when portico came out, and being on Verizon.. Well, you know.
I'm a fan of WP8 OS, don't get me wrong. This might be a bad place to get an objective view on Android though
You mean you don't like Portico or you don't like waiting for Portico?
If you don't like waiting for an update, Android is a bad place. It is extremely fragmented and updating is done primarily by the carrier. My brother just got Jelly Bean from Verizon on his Razr Maxx. The first Jelly Bean release to a device came on July 13, so it took about 8 months. Portico began rolling in December, so it took just under four months and Verizon expects to do updates much closer to MS' release of them as we progress. This was just the first one. The next update is likely to take under two months from MS' release and they hope that the third will take under a month. From what I understand, the plan is to have all carriers and phones rolling out the Windows Phone Blue update at the same time.
But Verizon has no plans on speeding up Android updates. In fact, they may slow them down because of the cost of deploying them.
Here's another thing to remember about Android - it's future is in great jeopardy. People may look at it now and think there's not stopping it, but the case in Germany that Google brought against MS through Motorola Mobility could seriously hurt Google and begin the end for Android. MS counter sued and the German Court has indicated that they will issue an injunction essentially banning Google from Germany in many ways. This all stem from MS patents and Google's unwillingness to license them.
But there's a reason why Google doesn't wish to - because all other Android makers are. If Google must pay royalties, the claim will come up that Google knew all along that Android was not a "free and clear" OS, but they sold it as such to OEMs like Samsung, LG, etc. The claim will be made that Google did this to gain marketshare on the backs of others without a real investment of their own. They basically sold everyone a bill of goods because many of the technologies used in Android are owned by other parties, so it is not a free OS.
So Google may be sued for "dumping". The rumbling in Verizon are that all Android makers are contemplating a massive suit against Google based on the apparent outcome to sue them for all patent fees paid, past and future, and damages. This is one reason why Nokia went to MS and another why Samsung is developing its own OS. It's also why Blackberry made sure they had patent coverage on BB10.
I've had this discussion with the VZW guy I know and, while it is not the official stance of VZW, the execs are preparing for the possibility of a future without Android. Google would likely try to only have to pay past patent licenses, not future, in an attempt to end Android deployment and they will stop Android development.
This may not be where this will go, but I've talked to more than one person in the industry who does believe that this will happen over the next few years. Watch for the repercussions of the German ruling that will come in about two months. This will likely then resonate through the EU. Google will be forced to pay MS patent fees for Motorola and the floodgates will open. Watch how it progresses. But if Samsung files suit, watch for them to also stop Android in the near future and move their Galaxy series to a new OS, likely their own.
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